Duolingo English Test publishes IELTS skill-by-skill score comparison
Ofqual fines Cambridge English £875,000 over IELTS marking errors
IELTS Test Report Forms add Ofqual logo from 15 July 2026 Thursday 26 March 2026
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English for visas · Change
UKVI extends IELTS as an approved Secure English Language Test
UK Visas and Immigration has extended its agreement with IELTS, so IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills remain accepted for UK visas while the Home Office prepares its new test.
Tuesday 17 March 2026
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English for visas · Report
IELTS pulls out of bidding for the Home Office English test contract
The three IELTS partners will not bid to run the Home Office English Language Test, saying a fully remote test does not meet their security standards for high-stakes testing.
Thursday 5 March 2026
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English for visas · Change
Paper-based IELTS ends from mid-2026 as all tests move to computer
IELTS will stop offering the paper test from mid-2026, with dates set market by market. Some markets keep a Writing on Paper option, and IELTS for UKVI becomes fully digital.
Friday 16 January 2026
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English for visas · Report
Home Office plans mainly remote English test for visas from late 2027
The Home Office says its new English Language Test, replacing today's in-centre SELT system, should start in late 2027 or early 2028 and will be mainly taken remotely.
Thursday 7 August 2025
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IELTS · Change
Australia updates accepted English tests and PTE scores from 7 August 2025
Australia now accepts nine English tests for visas, with new score tables for tests taken from 7 August 2025. PTE Academic minimums change because the test and its scores have changed.
Thursday 31 July 2025
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IELTS · Change
IELTS signs new three-year agreement with Australia for visa testing
The IELTS partners have signed a new three-year deed with Australia's Department of Home Affairs, keeping IELTS Academic and General Training approved for Australian visas after a review of accepted tests.
Wednesday 4 December 2024
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English for visas · Change
UKVI extends IELTS contract for UK visa English tests
UK Visas and Immigration has extended its agreement with IELTS, so IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills remain approved Secure English Language Tests for UK visa applications.
Friday 8 November 2024
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IELTS · Change
Canada ends Student Direct Stream fast-track study permits
Canada closed the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express at 2 pm Eastern time on 8 November 2024. Later study permit applications go through the regular stream.
Wednesday 28 August 2024
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English for visas · Change
IELTS for UKVI Test Report Form shows CEFR level for each skill
From 29 August 2024 the IELTS for UKVI Test Report Form shows a CEFR level for each of the four skills, adds a performance summary and moves the UKVI reference number to the bottom.
Tuesday 23 July 2024
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IELTS · Change
IELTS on computer results now arrive in as little as two days
IELTS says most results for tests taken on computer are now released within two days of the test, making the computer-delivered test the faster route for people facing deadlines.
Wednesday 27 March 2024
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IELTS · Change
IELTS Progress Check practice test closes at the end of June 2024
IELTS is closing Progress Check, its official online practice test. The last test date is 21 June 2024 and results and account access end on 30 June 2024.
Tuesday 12 December 2023
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IELTS · Change
Immigration New Zealand accepts IELTS One Skill Retake results
Immigration New Zealand has approved IELTS One Skill Retake, so people who resit one section can use the updated result to study, work or migrate to New Zealand.
Tuesday 24 October 2023
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English for visas · Change
UK approves IELTS One Skill Retake for UK visa applications
UK Visas and Immigration has approved IELTS One Skill Retake as part of the Secure English Language Test rules, so IELTS for UKVI candidates can resit one skill rather than the whole test.
Thursday 10 August 2023
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IELTS · Change
Canada’s Student Direct Stream accepts PTE Academic from 10 August 2023
From 10 August 2023 Canada's Student Direct Stream accepts PTE Academic taken at a test centre, and IELTS Academic candidates need an overall 6.0 rather than 6.0 in every skill.
Wednesday 30 November 2022
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IELTS · Change
IELTS One Skill Retake begins in Australia ahead of global rollout
IELTS has introduced One Skill Retake, which lets candidates resit one of the four skills instead of the full test. It is available in a few Australian cities first, with wider rollout to follow.
Thursday 4 August 2022
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IELTS · Change
IELTS Online at-home Academic test launches in selected countries
IELTS Online, an at-home version of IELTS Academic with the same content and timing as the centre test, is now available in selected countries. It is for study, not migration.
Tuesday 5 October 2021
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IELTS · Report
IELTS announces IELTS Online, an at-home Academic test for 2022
IELTS has announced IELTS Online, a way to take IELTS Academic at home with a live online Speaking test, due to start in a limited number of countries in 2022.